(Told by Sum Num.)
Yu Lok Gong was a very famous Northern Mantis boxer. It was said that he could have nine fifty kilo bags of rice stacked one on top of another and kick any designated bag clean out of the stack without toppling the stack. Or, if bystanders asked, he could kick and pierce any bag, driving his kick into the bag halfway, again without tumbling the stack. In this way he demonstrated the incredible control, power and speed of his kicks.
Law Kwan Yuk was Yu Lok Gong’s teacher. He was renowned throughout China. He sent Yu Lok Gong to Futsan to take control of the Futsan branch of the eclectic Jing Mo Martial Arts Association. On his arrival, regional competitiveness flared. Yu Lok Gong was told that the South had better boxers than the North and that Yuen Kay San’s Wing Chun was invincible. Southerners and visiting Northerners got into debates as to who would win if Yu Lok Gong and Yuen Kay San fought. Some tempers flared and a number of scuffles broke out at inns and on the streets.
Yu Lok Gong decided to seek out Yuen Kay San, challenge him, and settle the manner once and for all. He was given a brief description of Yuen and set out to Yuen Kay San’s hangouts. Eventually he arrived at a smoke house and on entering spotted someone whom he thought was Yuen Kay San. He asked if the person was a Wing Chun practitioner. Yip Man, for it was he that Yu Lok Gong, mistaking him for Yuen Kay San, was addressing, answered that he was a Wing Chun practitioner. Yu Lok Gong then challenged him. Yip agreed. Yu Lok Gong set a time and place, a nearby local inn courtyard, and left.
In the interim, Yip Man decided that facing Yu Lok Gong might not be such a wise move, as he had never had any challenge matches. So, he informed Yuen Kay San that someone wished to discuss a legal matter with him. He offered the designated time and place of the duel and asked Yuen Kay San to attend and announce himself on entering. He failed to mention anything about a challenge.
Yuen Kay San did as requested. On the day of the fight, Yuen Kay San had done as requested, arrived at the inn courtyard, announced he had arrived and was waiting to be contacted. He had perched on a high bench with his shoes dangling from his feet.
He was surprised when Yu Lok Gong entered and announced that he had arrived to fight Wing Chun and meet the challenger. Yuen Kay San was intrigued as the senior Wing Chun master in Futsan that he had heard nothing of this challenge. A little time passed and at the designated time, Yip Man was nowhere to be found. Locals asked Yu Lok Gong where he had met the challenger and about his appearance and concluded it must have been Yip Man that he had spoken to. People who knew Yip, however, said that he had departed earlier that morning for Hong Kong.
The crowd gathered to watch noted that Yuen Kay San, the most senior Wing Chun master in Futsan, was present and that Yu might challenge him instead. Yu Lok Gong turned towards Yuen Kay San and challenged him. Yuen Kay San, who, although he had triumphed in numerous challenges, was not interested in such contests, and declined politely. Yu Lok Gong however, insisted. Without warning, he launched an attack at Yuen Kay San. As he was forced to defend himself, Yuen Kay San quickly sprang to his feet, without time to even put his shoes fully on. Yuen Kay San pressed Yu Lok Gong back, sticking to his footwork, jamming his famous legs. Yuen Kay San continued to press until Yu Lok Gong was backed into a barred door and he could no longer retreat. Yuen Kay San seized and trapped Yu Lok Gong, taking the centerline and his centre of gravity such that he couldn’t move. Pressed against the door and unable to move, knowing Yuen Kay San, holding him with one hand, was free to strike, Yu was forced to give in. Yu Lok Gong was very impressed by Yuen Kay San's superb technique and said that Wing Chun arms and Mantis legs would make a powerful system. Yuen laughed and said he had no need of other footwork. Yu asked Yuen Kay San to teach him but Yuen Kay San politely refused. Then he placed several demands on Yu Lok Gong: that he would not practise his art in Futsan, not open a gwoon in the South, and that he would return home. Sum Num stated that Yuen Kay San wasn’t vengeful and when Yu Lok Gong remained living in the South but complied with the other two conditions, Yuen Kay San let things lie.